Friday, June 1st, 2018
Hey cool, I got the date right… Minor details ….
Lots of good hitting conditions today and all games play
PITCHING TARGETS
As expected on a 15 game slate we’ve got some high end arms going today and while I don’t think any of them are in must own spots, there’s also not much in the mid tier that I am in love with today. It feels like a high scoring day and weekend coming up around the Majors.
STUDS
Carlos Carrasco … Yes, he is a stud. On the road Carrasco is someone we always look to use and specifically against the Twins of late he has had really good success. His last four starts total against Minnesota has netted in 26+ IP, 37 strikeouts and only 2 ER allowed. Dominant would be an understatement. The Indians are the hottest offense in baseball right now and their bullpen is the only thing holding this team back from locking up the division. Give me Cookies on the road in a spot where he could legit throw a CGSO. I like his upside more than the other “studs” out there today.
Chris Sale … Why is Sale #2 behind Carrasco? It’s not because of his last start. Someone around here said that Tyler Flowers would take him deep. That same someone is now saying that Jose Altuve is going to take Sale deep. Altuve is small, Sale is tall and lanky and when he throws that slider it’s up around Altuve’s chest and Jose will jack it out to left field. Altuve is on fire but never puts up huge games at home — except for tonight when he takes a 2-1 pitch out to left field for a solo HR. Oh, as for Sale… He’ll do well and bounce back outside of the Altuve prediction on my part but I don’t wanna be chasing the win with Sale when I’m confident Carrasco gets it — so that’s why he is #2.
MID TIER
Nick Pivetta … I’m old enough to remember when everyone said Pivetta was trash and you must stack against him and he’s not very good. Oh wait, those would be the frauds who didnt bother to actually watch the kid pitch or factor in that his early starts were coming in 90+ degree heat against a red hot Nationals team. I’m rambling here. Pivetta is gonna be popular today on both sites because of his price and the matchup against the Giants in a huge pitchers ballpark. Do I like Pivetta? Of course I like Pivetta…. Next question.
Tyler Mahle … Hey Cool, we rode the Padres to a big night last night. Sweet, lets not do that again, okay? 6100 is a bargain for him on FD tonight. His price on DK will likely keep his ownership down, but the walks can be an issue on DK scoring — but this is the Padres
Jaime Barria … Want someone who is just gonna pitch well and not get you a huge score? Barria is that guy. Despite the idea that Texas strikes out a lot, this is not a strikeout arm but he’s a pitcher I think we can trust to pitch well and deep enough.
LOW TIER
Mike Leake … The best of the ‘punt’ options today for me is Mike Leake and I’m guessing others will be in the same boat. I think Seattle’s offense gives him plenty of run support and aside from Brad Miller’s return to SafeCo again we can pretty much look at the Rays and just shrug off most of them as options. I don’t think Leake is good. Check that, I know Leake isn’t good. But for 4k a home favorite, we can do worse.
LONGSHOT
Hector Santiago … Brewers are weaker vs LHP and this is one spot where I don’t love the hitting conditions. Both he and Chase Anderson are gonna pitch well tonight but Chase just has not looked right since his DL stint so I’d rather take the risk with Santiago. Time for some shots.
FADES …
- Gerrit Cole … Won’t pitch poorly, but too costly for an arm against Boston who has limited K upside.
- Stephen Strasburg … Nah, not in Atlanta for $12.1k. Just not worth the price IMO …
- Folty … I don’t play Folty vs the Nats, he’ll be rolling along looking good and then … well, it doesnt finish well.
HITTING TARGETS
Oakland … Really hot and humid in KC and Ian Kennedy is NOT someone that should give Oakland fits even with the comfort of his large stadium behind him. With Davis back in the lineup the OAKtown cold streak is about to end. Lowrie-Davis-Olson-Joyce-Lucroy in that order.
Cleveland … The top six guys are on fire. I’ll just keep playing EE, Lindor, Ramirez and Brantley, thank you. Berrios does not scare me but the 12 mph wind blowing in does limit my excitement for them today, which is why they are lower down. Love EE, Ramirez and Brantley specifically today.
D’Backs (and Marlins)…. Uhhh … The roof is open and nobody is talking about this game … Something tells me this wins the qualifier(s) tonight. Arizona is back home and I think they’re cheating and using non humidor balls (okay, I am just throwing shit against the wall to justify my gut feeling that they’re going off tonight). Splish splash into the pool. Lock and load the Lamb and the road catchers in chase theory… JT!
MINI EXPOSURE
Yankees … Pretty much the EXACT same reason I liked them yesterday, but not a team to really go full stack with in my mind. Cashner is consistently someone who you dont use as a SP, but he tends to avoid the blow up games when pitching at home. He’ll go 5 innings, give up 3-4 runs and then turn it over to the terrible bullpen. Yanks score 6 tonight which kinda makes them someone you wanna pick 1 batter from and fade stacking because they’ll just be okay and will cost a ton of money.
Last night I was hoping they would play the game (which it was not raining 30 mins after they PPD it) and the Yanks would be low owned on a short slate because of the weather issues. No need to go heavy here tonight with plenty of other options. But they will produce.
SNEAKY
Reds … Walker Lockett is making his debut today and he has less than impressive numbers in the minors. This is a desperation call up for the Pads as they simply need someone to fill in. Reds and Mariners are my favorite late night hammers tonight.
PLAYER RANKINGS
This is where you should really live on Friday’s. Do a 1 team stack and then plug in the top one offs…
CATCHERS
- JT Realmuto
- Devin Mesoraco
- Mike Zunino … Let’s be honest, he won’t be on my main lineup.
FIRST BASE
- Matt Olson
- Justin Bour
- Edwin … I’ve been waiting for the double dong game, and tonight he will be < 5% owned.
- Freddie Freeman
SECOND BASE
- Jose Altuve
- Jed Lowrie
- Daniel Descalso
- Logan Forsythe
THIRD BASE
Lamb (Splish Splash Jake Lamb), GOAT (Nolan), Moose (Moustakas) & Bubba Gump (Jose Ramirez)
SHORTSTOP
- Didi … Feels like a Didi game
- Francisco Lindor
- Trea Turner
- Look for value here, waiting for lineups to see anything, but I don’t mind a punt at this position today.
OUTFIELD – Tier 1
- Matt Kemp … When Matt Kemp is in Coors, you play Matt Kemp in Coors.
- Khris Davis
- Brett Gardner
- Charlie Blackmon
OUTFIELD – Tier 2
- Nick Castellanos … Tigers raking vs LHP and Garcia stinks … Miggy supposed to be back so lets see where Casty hits.
- David Peralta
- Michael Conforto
- Michael Brantley
- Andrew Benintendi
OUTFIELD – Tier 3
- Derek Dietrich
- Matt Joyce
- Franmill Reyes
- Dustin Fowler
THE DONGERS CLUB
- Jose Altuve – 2B – Chairman
- Matt Kemp – OF
- JT Realmuto – C
- Jake Lamb – 3B
- Didi Gregorius – SS
- Edwin Encarnacion – 1B
- Nick Castellanos – OF
- Dustin Fowler – OF
- BONUS …………………… Jed Lowrie – 2B